Latching device for knockout windows



May 22, 1951 Y. WEHRET 2,554,442

LATCHING DEVICE FOR KNOCK OUT WINDOWS Filed March 30, 1945 Patented May 22, 1951 LA'ICHING DEVICE FOR KNOCKOUT WINDOWS Yale W. Ehi-et, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to The Adlake Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 30, 1945, Serial No. 585,711

2 Claims. (Cl. 292-78) This invention has to do with knock-out sash of the type used for windows of busses and other vehicles for the purpose of permitting escape of the occupants in the event of an accident.

' The principal object of the invention is to provide a latching device of new and improved construction which will hold the sash tightly in its closed position, will yrelease the sash when the latter is subjected to suificient force, will aid in opening the sash upon the latter being released, and will automatically refasten the sash in its closed position again upon the sash being forcibly returned to that position.

The present latching device is of value not only in facilitating escape through the window opening but in allowing the sash to be swung down on the outside of the bus or other Vehicle for convenient access to both surfaces for cleaning.

f While the foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, other more specific objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction and mode of operation of the new latching device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is presented herein by Way of exemplilcation but it will of course be appreciated that the invention is capable of incorporation n other structurally modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an inside view of a bus window equipped with the latching device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an outside view of the same window;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the window, taken on approximately the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the upper edge of the sash in the window, illustrating the position of the pivotally mounted detent of the latching device when the sash is closed, with the keeper engaged by the detent shown in dot-dash lines;

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the position assumed by the detent when the sash is forced open, with the released keeper shown in dot-dash lines; and

Fig. 6 is a side View of the latching device.

Referring in more detail to the drawing, the window shown therein includes a frame I0 and a sash II. The frame I0 is provided about its inner periphery with a flange I2, and the sash I I is positioned in the frame in substantial abutment with such ange. The sash II contains a horizontally slidable panel I3, but this feature has nothing to do with the invention. The sash I I is hinged along its lower outside edge at I4 to the lower outside edge of the frame I 0, and is provided about its periphery with a sealing flange I5, which flange abuts the outside edge of the frame on an interposed gasket I6 carried by the flange.

The sash II is locked in its closed position in the frame I0 by two spaced latching devices I'I and I8. As these devices are duplicates'of each other-and as one could be employed instead of two-only one of them will be described.

The latching device I'I includes primarily a keeper I9 and a detent 20. The keeper I9 consists of a downwardly projecting stud 2I which is mounted on a plate 22. The plate 22 is xedly secured in any suitable manner to the upper edge of the frame Ill, with the stud 2| projecting into interiocking engagement with the detent when the sash is in its closed position. The detent 20 is a generally triangular member which is pivotally mounted near its center on a pin 23 within a housing 24. The housing 24, which is preferably a one-piece sheet metal stamping, is positioned against the upper edge of the sash and is xedly secured in position by screws 25 which extend through a portion of the sash into threaded apertures in ears 26 formed on the ends of the housing. The flange I2 on the adjacent portion of the frame I0 is cut away at 21 to accommodate the housing 24 when the sash is in its closed position.

The detent 20 is provided with two nose portions 28 and 23 between which the stud 2| of the keeper I9 is adapted to be positioned, with the nose portion 28 engaging the stud to hold the sash closed. The detent 20 is pivotally connected beyond the pin 23 to a bifurcated clip 30, by means of a pin 3 I The pin 3I is located approximately equidistant from the two nose portions 28 and 29, measured along diverging lines which pass on opposite sides of the pin 23. The clip 30 is of U-shaped cross section and is secured to one end of a guide rod 32, which rod is slidably mounted at its other end in an aperture 33 in a flange 34 formed on the housing. A coil spring 35 encircles the rod 32 and is confined under substantial compression between the base 36 of the position shown in Fig. 5, through the dead-center position of the spring 35. In this latter position the detent 20 will be brought to rest against the pressure of the spring 35 by engagement of one edge of the detent with the base 36 of the clip 30 at 31.

It will be understood'. from the foregoing that7V the detent 20 is acted upon in two different'directions by the spring 35, and that the direction in,

which it is acted upon depends upon the position" into which the detent has beernsnapped'..N The` detent is provided With a curved throat portion 38 between the nose portions28 and 429, and the..-

stud 2l of the keeper operates inthis' throat por.- tion. In moving from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 the detent 2G passes momentarily through a dead-centenpcsi-ltion.

When the sash l I is forced open from its closed position the detent ,20.will turn quickly from the l position shown in Fig, ,4, in1 which theA nose porT tijon 281ispressing with considerable pressure against the stud..2l, into anoscillated position, wherein the other nose portion 29 will' contact and press against the opposite side of the stud 2|, givingadded impetus, to theopening movement ofQthesash and moving` it. beyond the detent120 as shown in Fig. 5.

When the sash .,ll isready to .be closed again itis mo-ved forcibly` into,its'closed position. As it approaches this position the nose portion 29 ofithe detentwillengage with the stud 2l and member. andla Vsash member hingedly connected to.one sideofsaid frame member, a, latching device for detachably connecting theV other side of said"sashmember withsaid 'frame member, said.

latching device comprisinga keeper pin on one 0f 'said' members and a pivotally mounted detent member on the other, of `said memberasaid detent-member. havingl two nose Aportions between.

which` saidlkeeper is adapted to be positioned with one of said 'nose portions engaging said keeper when said'sash member is in closed position and the. other of said nose portions engaging said keeper duringv the initial opening movementor said sash member, a guide rod having a generally U-shaped end portionl said detent member comprisingV two Vouter plates and an inner plate with portions of the outer plates cuty away to provide a generally triangular connecting portion on said inner plate for pivotallyV connecting thereto said U-shaped rod' end, a compression spring on said guide `rodoperable to resist, pivotal movement of` said. detent memberV towards a dead-center position but accelerating the pivotal movement of said detent member away from a dead-center position, said triangular connecting portion being positioned between the legs of said U-shaped end portion with an adjacent side edge thereof adapted to engage the base ofsaid endy portion andprovde stop means permittingy limited' Ymovementloi: saiddetent relative to said guide rod in either direction away from a dead-center position, whereby said latchingy device functions to yieldably hold said sash iniclosed position-and to initially resist and then accelerate the movement of said member when it is'force:1-op en.byy pressure exerted against the sash...

2. For use'ini avehicle window having a frame member-,and a sash, member hingedly connected t0 one side ofV said frame member, a latching device;-.,forzdetachably connecting the other side oi' said sash member with said frame member, said ,-latching l device` comprising a keeper pini, on

one-of said members, and ,A a pivotallyv mounted. detent member on-.itheother` of said. members, said detent member;havingtwofnose. portions,

between which` said keeper isadapted. to be` positioned, with onefofsaid nose,I portions engaging said'z keepervwhen; said; sash member isinclosed position andthegotherA of said nose fportions.l engaging saidkeeper during the initial openingl movement ot said sashmember, a guide rod having afslotted.` end-,portion said, detent,

member havingatriangular connecting portion opposite said nose portions; saidconnectingsportion being' pivotallyA-secured', in, the; slot in. said rod end withl an adjacent.-. side,` edgethereofv adapted to engagethe-edgeof the rod at the-base.`

of theslot-andf limit the relative movement of the detent i and ftheuguidefrod from a dead-cen ter position of lthedetent to-thefopen position thereof, and a compression'spring-- on said guide rod operable to.A resist .pivotal vmovement of said.

detent` member` towardsy the dead-center position but accelerating;theffpivotal rmovement ofy said detent member awayffroml-the:deadfcenter po sition, whereby said latchingdevice functions ,to

yieldably; hold saidisash in closedepostion and to initially resist and;thenraccelerate-\thei move-l ment .of-,said member when itA is forcedfopenbyy pressurey exerted againstgthesash. YALE.-W-.EHRET.

REFERENCESQCITTED The lfollowing references are offrecord in' the:

file Yoff-this patenti;

UNITED' `sfrlrrnsjPii'rmv'rs Number. Name Date-v 1,88',,484= Vi/Taltons-Y- Nov; 8, 1952;7 1,909,111 Kuney; May 16, 1933 2,016,519; Schmidt1r Oct. 8,-,1935 2,020,277n ElwelL Nov. 5,r 1935 2,352,727..J McMahon: Julyg 4, V1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 57,194. Denmark Sept..15; 1938 375434` FranceV July. 9 1907 

